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Smallville finale preview: Falling planes, the apocalypse and the return of Lex

It's the end of a 10-year era for "Smallville" and expectations are high. Really high. Don't-you-dare-screw-this-up high. It's enough to make even the most seasoned showrunner shudder.

But "Smallville" head honchos Brian Peterson and Kelly Souders say they're confident the series finale will deliver. "We know we’ll never hit everything -- it's impossible." Peterson said. "But I think the finale hits 80 to 90 percent of what everybody’s going to want. More than almost any other episode we’ve done."

That's saying a lot, considering they've got to tie up big storylines involving Darkseid and the apocalypse. Fortunatley, the special effects are up to the task, including a shot of a plummeting airplane and the apocalypse encroaching on Earth. "It definitely has, I think, a feature scope and a feature feel," said Peterson, "just probably fewer of those shots than you would get in a movie... because that’s probably 20 times our budget."

But the finale isn't just an action-packed episode. "We saved a lot of the little interpersonal moments that I think really make the show and there’s one shot that is like the Smallville shot," said Peterson. "You see it and you’re just like, this is what we needed in the finale. You’ll know it the second you see it."

One of the most anticipated aspect of the episode is the return of Lex Luthor, played by Michael Rosenbaum. Lex went through a lot of changes over the course of the series, from Clark Kent's best friend to an unrepentantly evil villain. Which Lex will we see?

"We really went back to the pilot and there is that guy who showed up and was totally personable and super sympathetic and just wanted to thank a guy for saving his life," said Souders. "When we looked at having him back for the finale, it was the same thing. They’re going to go on to be huge enemies, so what is it that is pivotal at this moment to our Lex Luthor and our Clark Kent and how do we wrap up the relationship that has been so complicated and so mixed with emotions for 10 years?"

Then there’s Chloe, a character who was created for the show but gained such a strong following that DC ended up incorporating her into the comic books. "There are a lot of different ways people want Chloe to end," said Peterson. "I think we serviced her character in a way that was right for who she was and who she is becoming. She has one big moment with Clark where we get to see her shine."

"[And you see] how she interacts with sort of the overall mythology," Souders added. "I will say that Chloe fans should just definitely stay tuned throughout the whole show. There’s a jewel."

But what viewers are perhaps most excited about is seeing Clark take that final step into becoming Superman. As the season finale begins, we’ll see Clark struggling with the role his mentors from the past, Jor-El and the Kents, should take in his present. "He's really trying to figure out all those types of relationships as he finally takes this step into complete manhood -- shall we say, superman manhood -- and I think it’s still a complication in his life that he has to make peace with in the finale," said Souders.

After 10 seasons there is one thing that both Souders and Peterson hope the fans will take away from the show. "Honestly I think it’s probably the theme that emerges this year, which is: 'Believe in heroes.'," Souders said.

"Superman was born out of a very tumultuous time in our history," Peterson added. "We’re facing a lot of other challenges right now and we will in the future. To me it’s inspiration for sure."

The two hour series finale of Smallville airs this Friday, May 13, on The CW.